Source URL: https://www.cyberark.com/resources/blog/pam-and-cloud-security-the-case-for-zero-standing-privileges
Source: CSA
Title: PAM and Cloud: The Case for Zero Standing Privileges
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the evolving landscape of privileged access management (PAM) in cloud environments and emphasizes the need for adopting Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) as a security approach. It highlights the challenges presented by the complexity of cloud services, where traditional methods of managing access and privileges fall short, especially with the increasing number of services available and the roles transitioning into the cloud.
Detailed Description:
– **Privileged Access Management (PAM)**:
– The traditional PAM strategies are inadequate in the context of new cloud environments, which blur the lines of security responsibility.
– Key principles remain essential: least privilege, role-based access control, and session auditability.
– **New Cloud Environments**:
– On-premises environments allow for clear security delineation, unlike cloud scenarios where boundaries are ambiguous.
– The text compares an AWS user provisioning an S3 bucket to unauthorized physical access in a data center, emphasizing that cloud services are not as strictly contained as traditional systems.
– **Admin Overload and Evolving Roles**:
– The modern cloud environment grants extensive access to users, including over 1,400 native services across major cloud providers.
– Security concerns arise when developers assume administrative roles due to their need for flexibility and agility, resulting in excessive privileges that increase security risks.
– A significant percentage of security professionals recognize developers having too many privileges, creating attractive targets for attackers.
– **Cloud Architectures**:
– Microservices have revolutionized application design, introducing scale and efficiency but also complicating security since a failure in one microservice can impact multiple users.
– Engineers require broad access to ensure system stability, challenging traditional isolation approaches.
– **Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP)**:
– The article advocates for implementing ZSP: a security model that necessitates that entitlements are only available when needed and are dynamically issued, addressing the unique challenges of cloud operations.
– ZSP can minimize risk, prevent credential theft, and enable organizations to enjoy the cloud’s full capabilities by diminishing the threat of lateral movement, which is particularly crucial in a fast-paced development environment.
In summary, transitioning to a Zero Standing Privileges system is recommended as a necessary evolution in identity security to adapt to the complexities of cloud environments and maintain both security and operational velocity.